The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-02-19


own room-the room she would never enter
again: but there were no tears, no misery
apparent. All the hot bitter anguish
seemed frozen. All the future stretched
out before her-long and full of heartache.
If only she could die young!
A slim, dark figure, cloakei and yelled,
she stole from the house less than half an
hour later passed the room where the SER
wants were trying TO restore him, paused,
then passed OIL with hard, dry sob out
into the dreary wildness of the chill No
| vember night.
She bought ticket for New York, slid
silently into shadowy corner of the coach
and remained so waiting, so looking from
the window without thought or aim of any
kind
Suddenly man took the seat beside herF
| suddenly mans voice, soft and low, con-
tanning moching caress, whispered in her
ear:
$50, my beauty! knew you would give
up all for me. Look up, Cleo, and give
me welcoming smile"
She did look suddenly, proudly, and
scornfuly into the handsome, debonair
face above'her, the face of her evil genius,
Everett Gould, with mocking smile in
his eyes.
But she gave him no answer, only turned
back indifferently to the wintery view of
chill, gray dawn.
If she had only died before she had
ever seen il!
If only, oh, God! she had been low in
mind, ugly IN looks, lost and depraved in
soul to suit the long life spread out before
her-the same life from which Leonard
Westphal in his generous ~loye had lifted
her!
If only she dared defy Everett Could
But she dare not.
He had threatened to sue for bgamy, to
scandalize and smlrch the proud name Of
Westphal and-well, it was just as well to
submit.
Fate was against her, anyway, and the
only happy hours of her life were those
few short months when she believed herself
Leonard Westphal's wife.
They were dead, those priceless hours;
but,
"Ah, ifbeslde the dead slumbered the pain!
All, il the hearts that blcd slept with the slain!
If the grief died-but no.
Leonard Westphal turned as a gloved
hand fell on his ann, and CHEEKY voice
called out:
Hello, Westphal! By Jove! glad see
you, cid fellow; but how the deuce did you
come to be in New York? Heard some
time ago that you were across the sea-
Leonard Westphal shook hands heartily,
as he replied:
$50 have been for the last three years,
but one gets weary of that after all. Bound
for any place in particular, Patton?'
Hartley Patton slipped his arm through
his friends. puffed moment at his cigar,
then replied:
"Well, yes; and-being duly sworn and
identiiied-I pronounce YOU my guest for
the evening. First we'll take supper at the
Star; then there's the theater. Wouldn't
miss it for the world-fnest acting I've
ever seen.'
The curtains were drawn for the balcony
scene-the play was "Romeo and Juliet"
when they took their places in Mr.. Pat
toms conspicuous box.
Mr.. Westphal's eyes were fixed with
eager interest on the face of the beautiful
Juliet. Great heavens it was Cleo-his
| lost love!
''Smitten?" queried Mr.. Patton. "No
wonder Magniticently beautiful, but-she
looks too much like a sorrowful nun to be
on the stager'
But Mr. Westphal never answered, and
and the play-well played-went on. Be
low, a magnificent Romeo pleaded elo-
quently; aboye.that beautiful Juliet leaned,
radiartly, but pathetically beautiful
Once she lifted her eyes. and they met
the eager, burning ones OF Mr. Westphal.
There was momentary hesitation in the
play-she had schooled herself for this
meeting-then her eyes dropped and she
leaned over the balcony again, while the
audience fairly held their breath.
'Romeo, Romeo-wherefore art thou Romeo?"
"Call me but love, and III be new baptIzed;
l never"
There was the fash of pistol among the
audience-a low cry-and never by that ac-
tors lips were the words of Romeo fin
ished.
The play was broken up with a rush of
confusion; the dying Romeo was borne off
the stage with plying hands; the woman
VINO held the still smoking pistol was Sc
cured; and behind the scenes the actors and
actresses crowded around-whispering in
low, awed tones, when Leonard Westphal
and his friend forced their way in among
them.
"Cleo-Cleop cried Mr.. Westphal, as he
paused before the beautiful, white-faced
who had played Juliet. "Oh, my dar-
ling"
"Hushr' she whispered. He is dying
see! 1t is-HIM!
"Cleo, Cleo, are you here?" gasped the
dying man. Forgive me, and-don't let
them hang Ninon. She swore she would
shoot me if went back--to you! Say that
she was insane. Prayw
before Heaven you are my wifer' said